Valve



March 3, 1942. w. L. os'rENDoRF 2,274,969

VALVE Filed May-27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, '1942. w. v| os'rENDoRF 2,274,969

VALVE Filed May 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheety 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE VALVE William L. Ostendorf, Rayland, Ohio Application May 27, 1940, Serial No. 337,378

2 Claims. (Cl.`137l04) My invention relates to valves, particularly to ball-cocks that are used in the ilushing tanks of water-closets and the like, and consists in improvements in construction.

The object is to provide a structure that is less costly than the valves now offered to the public. It is further my aim to provide a more compact structure, a structure that is more positive, certain and durable in service, and that is quiet in operation.

A ball-cock embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I is a View of the valve in side elevation. Fig. II is a view of the ball-cock structure to larger scale, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, as seen on the plane II-II of Fig. I. Fig. III is a view, comparable in general with Fig. II, but showing more of the structure in elevation than Fig. II; Fig. II shows the valve element of the structure in one of its alternate positions h of service, and Fig. III shows it in the other. Fig. IV is a view of the valve element, as seen on the plane IV--IV of Fig. II. And Fig. V is a view illustrating certain of the modifications that are permissible within the lield of the invention, it being noted that the modified valve (Fig. V) is shown in a view similar to Fig. II, but to smaller scale.

The ball-cock or float-valve of the invention consists in a body or casing including an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to a water supply line, while the outlet communicates with the water-storing chamber of a flushing tank. A valve is arranged within the structure, to control flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a neat-operated arm or lever is arranged to hold such valve in closed position when, and so long as, the flushing tank is fully charged. Alternately, when the store of water within the tank is released, the valve-controlling arm or lever, whose iloat is deprived of the buoyancy forces of the water, swings downward; the valve is moved into open position, and the tank is recharged. In the course of such refilling of the tank, the rising Water in the tank swings the float-lever upward and shifts the valve towards its seat. When the tank is fully recharged, the valve reaches fully seated position and the ballcock structure is closedto now. Such are the general characteristics of the structure.

Turning now to a consideration of the refinements and improvements that form the substance of my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings.

Thabody orcasing Vof my structureA is formed in two parts `or portions a and b of brass, or bronze or other suitable material. Such body, or casing, is recessed within; its inlet is shown at 2 and its outlet at 3; the inlet is connected by a pipe 4 and fitting 5 to the usual water supply line (not shown) that opens'through the iioor of the flushing tank with which the structure is organized, and the outlet 3 receives a pipe Ii that eX- tends downward in the tank to a point immediately above its said floor. Between the inlet and outlet a valve-seat 'I is arranged in body portion a, and, within the chamber I0 in body a, b, a rotary valve 8 is journaled on a stem 9, which stem is in this case formed integrally with the valve. The stern 9 on one side of the valve 8 (the left-hand side of the valve as herein illustrated) extends through the annular valve-seat 'I and finds bearing in the body portion a of the structure, while on opposite side of the valve 8 (the right-hand side) the stem 9 obtains bearing in the body portion b, and, extending from `the latter body portion, as at II, receives in fixed, though angularly adjustable, engagement the float-arm I2; that is, the lever or arm that carries the usual iloat I3 at its distal end. The valve 8 with its stern is movable both angularly and longitudinally of its axis, and in the range of such movement it is adapted to control flow between the inlet 2 and outlet 3; that is to say, in the range of such movement the valve is adapted to shift relatively to its seat 'I between a position in which communication is established for flow between the inlet and outlet (Fig. III), and a position in which'such communication is blanked (Fig. II). The valve 8 carries the usual gasket or washer of rubber or fibrous material for immediate engagement with the seat. When the flushing tank is fully charged, the float-arm I2 is by the buoyancy of the water sustained in the position illustrated in Fig. I, and the valve 8 is held to its seat 1, as shown in Fig. II. Alternately, when the tank is emptied, the iloat-arm swings downward, rotating the Valve, and, through the instrumentality oi means now to be described, eiiecting the movement of the valve into unseated position (Fig. III). Communication is established between the inlet 2 and outlet 3 and a tank-recharging flow of water is supplied to pipe 6.

The means which effect such unseating of the Valve 8 consist in a plurality of links I4 in articular engagement with the valve, each at a point spaced laterally from, or eccentrically of, the axis O of the valve (Fig. IV). In this case the `structure includestwolinks I4 arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the valve axisthe value of the angle being 180. T'he articulation of each link to the valve is effected by means of a balland-socket joint; specically, a socket I5 is provided in the valve for each link; the socket is semi-spherical at its base and the link is correspondingly shaped at its end Ida, to nest therein; from its semi-spherical base the socket flares: in its extent axially of the valve, providing a widened mouth that extends circumferentially of the cylindrical body of the valve, as may be perceived in Fig, IV. The links I4, extending from their points of articulation to the valve-extending in the general direction of extent of the axis of the valve--are articulated to a portion I6 of Athe structure, and the articulation is effected by means of ball-and-socket joints Il, |4b, similar to those included in the valve 8, already described. The particular form and organization of the sockets l5, |"I are designed to admit of the angular or rotary movement of the links between their points of articulation. In this case the portion I5 is integral with the stationary body part b of the structure, wherefore, when the valve 8 (in consequence of the swing of the oatarm) turns, the links are moved angularly between their points of articulation, or more accurately they may be said to move angularly about their points of articulation to the stationary .portion I6, with the consequence that the effective length of the links, in the direction of extent of the valve axis o, is varied, and the valve 8 shifts on its axis relatively to the valve-seat l.

When the ushing tank is fully charged with water and the float-arm I2 is in the position illustrated in Fig. I, the valve 8 is held in the position shown in Fig. II, tightly closed upon the seat 1. The buoyancy of the water, exerting an upward thrust on the float-carrying end of the arm I2, tends to rotate the valve 8 in such direction that the links I4 will move (as seen in Fig. II) towards parallelism with the axis of the valve; that is, the movement is such as to tend to increase the effective length of the links, with the result that the links, bearing at one end against the stationary body portion I6, exert an axial thrust on the Valve, securely holding it to its seat, against the pressure of the water on the inlet side of the seat (the left-hand side in Fig.

II) Thus, the rotative stress of the float-arm is converted to a thrust acting axially of the valve, to hold the valve in tightly closed position on its seat.

When the flushing tank is discharged, the float-arm swings downward, rotating the valve 8 and turning the links I4 into the positions shown in Fig. III. It will be understood that such movements decrease the effective length of the links, and the valve 8 moves under the pressure of Water supplied by pipe li into open position. With the valve thus opened water flows through the structure into the tank. The rising water in the tank swings the float-arm upward, the valve 8 is rotated, the links Iii turn, and the valve is shifted axially towards its seat; as the tank reaches fully charged condition, the valve 8 reaches its seat, and is there held in tightly closed position, shutting off flow between the inlet 2 and outlet 3.

As in the usual ball-cock, I provide means for limiting the downward swing of the float-arm as the tank is emptied. As distinguished from the usual practice, however, I embody such means with the internal parts of the structure, f Spe-A tempes cically, an arcuate groove I8 is provided in the rotary valve 8, and into such groove extends a lug I9 integral with the stationary body portion I6. The utility of the stop will be manifest.

The casing or housing a, b includes a threaded opening 2li, by means of which the usual "afterlill tube may be connected to the valve-chamber It, on the delivery side of the valve-seat l.

In Fig. V, I illustrate that the organization of the valve-shifting links of the structure of the invention may be modified. Specifically, the links |40 may be pivoted on pins I4| at their opposite ends to the valve and the portion |60, respectively, in such manner that relative rotation between the valve 8E! and portion I B0 effects the desired axial movement of the valve with respect to its seat lll. Fig. V is further illustrative that the portion |60 (the counterpart of the stationary portion I5 of the structure first described) may be the rotatable element of the couple (80, |60), and the valve 80 adapted to move to and from its seat with rectilinear motion only, More particularly, the member |60 is provided with a hollow journal ISI through which the valve-stem 9B extends; such journal, extending from the housing member b', receives the float-arm IZU; the member |60 is, as clearly shown, secure against axial movement, but is free to rotate with the swing of the float-arm, whereas the valve Sil is free to shift axially, but is restrained against rotation, as `by the engagement of the head of one of the pivot pins |4| in a slot |42 formed in the body portion a of the ball-cock structure. Thus, as the float-arm swings in one direction or the other between its `alternate positions, the member |60 is correspondingly rotated; the links |40 are turned on their pivots, and the valve 80 moved toward or from its seat, depending on the direction of rotation of the member |60.

In refinement of the structure described, I propose to construct the valve (8 or 80) of a moldable plastic material, such as urea formaldehyde. Hitherto, valves and ball-cocks of the sort herein contemplated have been constructed of metal,

but I have found that all metals which are practical to use are not sufficiently durable. The noble metals and stainless steels are too costly; the less expensive steels corrode, and copper and brass, while they may not oxidize in such way as to be objectionable, do not seem to be inert; that is, over a period of time copper and brass, continuously exposed to water of the type found in our "municipal water supply systems, becomes brittle and liable to fracture. In constructing the valve of a plastic material of the exemplary sort mentioned, these difficulties or weaknesses are avoided. Such a valve may be readily and economically fashioned of the plastic material in a molding operation, and then solidified and hardened in a manner vwell known to the plastics art. The valve so constituted is inert; it is strong and enduring in service, and seems to assist in securing the desired quiet operation of the Valve. Not only the body of the valve, but the stem too, may be formed of such material, integrally formed, if desired, and internally reinforced with metal. Again, the member or portionl or 6U of the structure may be formed of the moldable plastic, and possiblythe entire structure may be so formed, with the possible exception of the annular seat (l or lll) with which the valve cooperates.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be clear that many'modiflcations of the structures illustrated are permissible, without departing from the invention dened in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a ball-cock consisting in a body having an inlet for fluid, an outlet, a valve-seat arranged between said inlet and outlet, a valve stem supported at its opposite ends in said body and extending normal to the plane of said valve-seat, a valve mounted on said stem and adapted to move on its axis to and from a position of engagement with said seat; the improvement herein described comprising a link that at one end pivotally engages said valve at a point spaced laterally from the axis of the valve, a member relatively to which said valve is rotatable on said axis, the opposite end of said link being arranged in articular engagement with said member, said link being angularly movable between a position in which said valve is held, against the pressure of fluid admitted through said inlet, in flow-blanking engagement with said seat, and a position in which the valve stands removed on the axis of said stem from such engagement, and means including a oat-arm for securing said link in its first-mentioned position.

2. In a ball-cock consisting in a body having an inlet for fluid, an outlet, a valve-seat arranged between said inlet and outlet, and a valve movable on its axis to and from a position of owinterrupting engagement with said seat; the improvementherein described that comprises a portion relatively to which said valve is rotatable on its axis, two links pivotally engaging said valve at points spaced laterally from and on opposite sides of the valve axis, said links extending from the points of pivotal engagement with the valve and pivotally engaging said portion relatively to which the valve is rotatable, said links being adapted, upon such relative rotary movement of said valve, to move angularl57 between a position in which said valve is held, against the pressure of fluid admitted through said inlet, in flowblanking engagement with said seat, and a position in which the valve stands removed from such engagement, and means including a floatarm for securing said link in its first-mentioned position.

WILLIAM L. OSTENDORF. 

